Hughes Aircraft Company

Robert D Etchells

Jan Grinberg

Siegfried Hansen

Graham R Nudd

Donald H Close

A column shorted and full array shorted functional plane for simultaneously transferring, or shorting, data to and from the data exchange subsystems of the array processor. This functional plane nominally includes an array of pseudo-modules that architecturally corresponds to the module arrays of the other functional planes of the array processor. Thus, a pseudo-module is present in each of the elemental processors. These pseudo-modules are associated as columns that are each interconnected by a shorted plane column data exchange subsystem. These columns are, in turn, associated with column control logic circuits that each include a column memory register. A mode decode logic circuit establishes the operating configuration of the column control logic circuits.

Column shorted and full array shorted functional plane for use in a

The Array Processor of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of modular Elemental Processors, the modules being of a number of different functional types. These modules are associated so that the Elemental Processors are architecturally parallel to one another. The principal flow of data within the Array Processor, based on the simultaneous transfer of data words within the Elemental Processors, is thereby correspondingly parallel. The modules are also architecturally associated as functional planes that lie transverse to the Elemental Processors. Each functional plane is thereby comprised of an array of modules that are each otherwise associated with a separate Elemental Processor. Further, the modules of a given functional plane are of a single functional type. This allows the data of a two-dimensionally structured data set, present within the Array Processor, to be processed identically and in parallel by a common logical operation as provided and performed by a functional plane. The Array Processor is operatively connected to a Control Processor by an Array/Control Processor Interface. This interface allows the Control Processor to direct the operation of, and exchange data with, the Array Processor.

Array processor architecture utilizing modular elemental processors

A Segregator Functional Plane capable of dynamically segregating any number, or subset, of a Modular Array Processor's functional planes, either in terms of control or data exchange, or both, from the remainder. This is provided by interspersing a number of Segregator Functional Planes throughout the Array Processor so that a Segregator Functional Plane is architecturally located between each of the adjacent subsets of the Array Processor's functional planes. The Segregator Functional Plane nominally includes an array of pseudomodules that corresponds to the module arrays of the other functional planes of the Array Processor so that a pseudo-module is architecturally present between correspondingly adjacent modules of each Elemental Processor. These pseudo-modules are comprised of switches that may be commonly activated to functionally sever their respective Elemental Processor data bus lines. The Segregator Functional Plane also includes a second set of commonly activatable switches for functionally severing each of the Address Bus, Control Bus, Clock, Address Valid, and Configuration Latch Reset lines. Further, a third set of commonly activatable switches are included within the Segregator Functional Plane for functionally severing the input and output data lines that interconnect the Control and Array Processors.

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Topanga, CA, United States of America

Robert D Etchells